If England continue to play home Tests on pitches as docile as this, the consequences will be far more immediate than simply driving supporters away from the game. It could finish off their two most important fast bowlers.

In India’s first innings on the sand pit by the Trent, Jimmy Anderson sent down 38 overs, Stuart Broad 33. If England can avoid the follow-on, the pair might be presented with a similar workload over the weekend.

While an England batting collapse can never be ruled out, the first session on day three followed the same pattern as the six that preceded it – bat dominating ball.

England resumed on 43 for one after captain Alastair Cook’s miserable run of form continued when he was dismissed for five yesterday evening. Sam Robson and Gary Ballance were largely untroubled as they helped the home side reach 131 for one at lunch, both men recording half-centuries.

India’s only glimpse of a breakthrough came when Robson, on 43, turned the left-arm spin of Ravi Jadeja behind square but Virat Kohli, posted at leg slip, could not keep the ball above the turf. Jadeja was extracting some turn and captain MS Dhoni must have regretted not playing the off-spinner, Ravi Ashwin, instead of one of his seamers.

Memorable Test matches between England and India

Memorable Test matches between England and India

1/7
1971 - The Oval

For the first time ever, India won a Test match on English soil. Fans surged onto the pitch in celebration before the winning shot had even crossed the boundary.

2/7
1976 - Delhi

Captain Tony Greig masterminded England's first victory in India since the Second World War. It remains one of England's greatest performances against the Indians.

3/7
1980 - Mumbai

Ian Botham stole the show in a one-off Test in Mumbai, taking 6 for 58 and 7 for 48, as well as adding 114 with the bat.

4/7
1993 - Mumbai

After a strong first innings of the third Test of England's 1992-93 tour of India, The hosts hit back with force. Vinod Kambli's 224 went a long way to helping India claim the Test by an innings and 15 runs, completing a 3-0 series whitewash.

5/7
2007 - Trent Bridge

After staving off defeat in the first Test at Lord's on the final day, India turned up at Trent Bridge and produced one of their finest performances on English soil. Sachin Tendulkar top-scored with 91 as the tourists posted 481 to wrestle control of the match in their first innings. The Indians eventually won the Test by seven wickets on the final day. The result would prove decisive as India went on to win the three-match series.

6/7
2008 - Chennai

Tendulkar was again the hero as India successfully chased a monumental target to win by six wickets. The little master hit 103 not out as the hosts chalked up the 387 runs needed for victory. It remains the highest fourth-innings Test total ever recorded in Chennai and ranks among the highest successful fourth-innings chases ever.

7/7
2011 - Edgbaston

Alastair Cook hit 294 as England made 710 - 7 declared - their third-highest Test total ever. Big knocks from Andrew Strauss and Eoin Morgan also helped the cause after the hosts had bowled out the Indians for just 224. England eventually won by an innings and 242 runs before Tea on day four.

England’s pace attack found life horribly tough on this deck and India’s had little more enjoyment before lunch. The fear is that in the Second Investec Test at Lord’s next week, it will be a similar story, especially if the wicket is as lifeless as that prepared for the draw against Sri Lanka in June. Broad and Anderson will be praying that Cook has better luck at the toss.

To prosper again in Test cricket, England need their best fast bowlers to be fit and fresh. What is the best way to accomplish this? Many people will have their ideas, but here is a really bad one: prepare flat wickets that do nothing to help the quicks and, just in case they have any energy left, pack five Tests into 42 days, just to make sure they’re completely knackered.

Make no mistake: this brutal pitch/schedule combination will hasten the end for Broad and Anderson, especially if England do not trust any of the specialist slow bowlers in the country to take the place of Graeme Swann.

Anderson has an excellent fitness record but he turns 32 on July 30. Although Broad is four years younger, his career has been punctuated by injuries – side, rib, heel, and now he is suffering tendinitis in his knee, a condition that can be managed, rather than cured completely.

Two years ago, former England coach Andy Flower was pilloried for resting Broad and Anderson for the Third Test against West Indies at Edgbaston, with the series already won. But Flower had simply looked at the schedule and made the pragmatic call. His successor, Peter Moores, admits it will be very difficult to retain the same seam attack throughout this campaign.

There is more chance of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Strauss going on an all-inclusive holiday to Skegness together than there is of English cricket’s top brass taking their eye off the bottom line, even for a second. England’s players and coaches have little choice but to adapt, especially if ground staff serve up surfaces similar to the 22 yards of utter dross that spectators have had to endure here.

Perhaps Anderson and Broad might have to renounce at least one form of cricket. Anderson’s record in one-day cricket is nothing like as impressive as in the five-day game and, as they build towards the 2015 World Cup, England could probably survive without him, while Eoin Morgan has the nous to succeed Broad, who plays all three forms, as Twenty20 skipper. It might be the only way.